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1948 and Britain was coming to terms with peace. Not the sort of peace expected by those who thought that once the war was over life would quickly return to normal. Reality had set in and the optimism of a world at peace and the election of a post war Labour Government was beginning to fade as rationing continued and unemployment continued to bite.
What better way to cheer things up for Londoners than a wrestling match? Not any run-of-the-mill match but possibly the biggest and most anticipated contest since the war ended. The tank-like British and European heavyweight champion, Bert Assirati was to face the roughest, toughest and ugliest wrestler of the pre war decade. In 1939 The Angel had left Britain for the United States, along with his mentor Karl Pojello.
He had returned tin 1947. Although had been advertised to take part in the 1947 World Heavyweight Title Tournament at Harringay he did not take part. Now he was to take part in the greatest match of them all, opponent Bert Assirati. All seats were undercover and so the weather could not prevent the contest going ahead.
Twelve thousand fans were reported to witness the event. It was a controversial ending to the match, refereed by Tiny Carr, who was dwarfed by the two men.
The two wrestlers were well matched in size and strength and Assirati struggled to throw The Angel, who made frequent use of his Body Crush hold to weaken the Brit. Assirati fought back with front headlocks that caused the Angel to protest to the referee. Tiny Carr smiled and told him to get on with it.
Time and time again Assirati tossed the Angel to the mat. Repeatedly he staggered to his feet, weakened from the headlocks. And then, when Assirati considered the time right, he grabbed the Angel’s legs, swiftly turned him to take the lead with his speciality Boston Crab submission.
On many occasions Assirati’s Boston Crab has ended the contest but the Angel came back into the contest, using more Body Crushes to weaken Assirati and take the equalising fall.
The end came with Assirati pinning The Angel. Unfair was the verdict of the fans and The Angel as the referee failed to notice that The Angel’s legs were hanging over the ropes outside of the ring.
The Angel protested, and so too did the fans who witnessed the injustice. Karl Pojello came to the ring to pacify The Angel and lead him back to the dressing room. Following victory Assirati issued a challenge to Frank Sexton, recognised in Europe as World Heavyweight Champion.
In supporting contests Milo Popocopolis drew with Pat Curry, Martin Bucht knocked out Dean Rockwell and The Red Shadow beat Jack Pye, who was disqualified.
The Master of Ceremonies was George Lawson-Peeke and the promoters were Maurice Letchford and William Smyth McCormick. Letchford was a well known wrestler while McCormick, wasa former Irish wrestler and now Physical Training Instructor at St Ignatious College, Stamford Hill in Enfield, London. Proceeds of the match were donated to the College
10/08/2025
Revised 16/07/2026
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